Scope and limitation of organocuprates, and copper or nickel catalyst-modified Grignard reagents for installation of an alkyl group onto cis-4-cyclopentene-1,3-diol monoacetate

Alkylation of the title compound 1 was investigated with two types of reagents. One is a copper reagent derived from R(T)MgX (X = Cl, Br) and CuX (X = CN, I) and the other is R(T)MgX in the presence of a copper or a nickel catalyst. First, butylation was studied with BuCu(CN)(MgX), Bu(2)Cu(CN)(MgX)(2), BuMgX/CuCN (10 mol %), BuCu (derived from BuMgCl and CuI), and BuMgCl/CuI (10 mol %) in THF or Et(2)O. We found that trans 1,4-isomer 2a and/or trans 1,2-isomer 3a were produced exclusively with these reagents and that the stoichiometry of BuMgX/CuX and the choice of solvent were critical to attain high regioselectivity and efficient yield. Reaction with Bu(2)Cu(CN)(MgCl)(2) and BuMgCl/CuX (X = CN, I; 10 mol %) both in THF produced 2a with 93-94% regioselectivity in 87-92% yields. On the other hand, BuCu(CN)(MgX) in THF, Bu(2)Cu(CN)(MgX)(2) in Et(2)O, and BuMgX/CuCN (10 mol %) in Et(2)O furnished 3a in good yields with >90% selectively, irrespective of X of BuMgX. In the nickel-catalyzed butylation of 1 with BuMgCl, NiCl(2)(dppp) among NiCl(2)(tpp)(2), NiCl(2)(dppf), and NiCl(2)(dppp) furnished the best result to produce 2a. The CuCN-based protocol was then applied to other alkyl Grignard reagents, which include Me, Et, (CH(2))(3)Ph, c-C(6)H(11), (CH(2))(6)OMOM, (CH(2))(9)CH=CH(2), and CH(2)Ph as the alkyl group (R(T)). In addition, the Mitsunobu inversion of 2a and 3a afforded the corresponding cis isomers stereoselectively with AcOH as an acid at -78 degrees C in toluene for 2a and with 4-(NO(2))C(6)H(4)COOH in THF at r.t. for 3a. No racemization during the alkylation was confirmed by the reaction using (1R,3S)-1 (>99% ee) to produce (1S,4S)-2a and (1S,2S)-3a, respectively.     

Unusual iron(III) ate complexes stabilized by Li-pi interactions

Several iron(III) complexes incorporating diamidoether ligands are described. The reaction between [Li(2)[RN(SiMe(2))](2)O] and FeX(3) (X=Cl or Br; R=2,4,6-Me(3)Ph or 2,6-iPr(2)Ph) form unusual ate complexes, [FeX(2)Li[RN(SiMe(2))](2)O](2) (2, X=Cl, R=2,4,6-Me(3)Ph; 3, X=Br, R=2,4,6-Me(3)Ph; 4, X=Cl, R=2,6-iPr(2)Ph) which are stabilized by Li-pi interactions. These dimeric iron(III)-diamido complexes exhibit magnetic behaviour characteristic of uncoupled high spin (S= 5/2 ) iron(III) centres. They also undergo halide metathesis resulting in reduced iron(II) species. Thus, reaction of 2 with alkyllithium reagents leads to the formation of iron(II) dimer [Fe[Me(3)PhN(SiMe(2))](2)O](2) (6). Similarly, the previously reported iron(III)-diamido complex [FeCl[tBuN(SiMe(2))](2)O](2) (1) reacts with LiPPh(2) to yield the iron(II) dimer [Fe[tBuN(SiMe(2))](2)O](2) but reaction with LiNPh(2) gives the iron(II) product [Fe(2)(NPh(2))(2)[tBuN(SiMe(2))](2)O] (5). Some redox chemistry is also observed as side reactions in the syntheses of 2-4, yielding THF adducts of FeX(2): the one-dimensional chain [FeBr(2)(THF)(2)](n) (7) and the cluster [Fe(4)Cl(8)(THF)(6)]. The X-ray crystal structures of 3, 5 and 7 are described.     

Anisole-diphenoxide ligands and their zirconium dichloride and dialkyl complexes

Linear triphenol H3[RO3] (2,6-bis(3-tert-butyl-5-methyl-2-hydroxybenzyl)-4-R-phenol; R = Me, tBu) was found to undergo selective mono-deprotonation and mono-O-methylation. Deprotonation of H3[RO3] with 1 equiv of nBuLi resulted in the formation of Li{H2[RO3]}(Et2O)2 (R = Me (1a), tBu (1b)), in which the central phenol unit was lithiated. Treatment of H3[RO3] with methyl p-toluenesulfonate in the presence of K2CO3 in CH3CN gave the corresponding anisol-diphenol H2[RO2O] (2,6-bis(3-tert-butyl-5-methyl-2-hydroxybenzyl)-4-R-anisole; R = Me (2a), tBu (2b)). Reaction of H2[RO2O] with 2 equiv of nBuLi gave the dilithiated derivatives Li2[RO2O]. The lithium salts were reacted with ZrCl4 in toluene/THF to obtain the dichloride complex [RO2O]ZrCl2(thf) (R = Me (3a), tBu (3b)). 3b underwent dimerization along with a loss of THF to generate {[tBuO2O]ZrCl2}2 (4), whereas 4 was dissolved in THF to regenerate the monomer 3b. Alkylation of 3 with MeMgBr, PhCH2MgCl, and Me3SiCH2MgCl gave [MeO2O]ZrMe2(thf) (5), [RO2O]Zr(CH2Ph)2 (R = Me (6a), tBu (6b)), and [tBuO2O]Zr(CH2SiMe3)2 (7), respectively. Reaction of 3b with LiBHEt3 produced the hydride-bridged dimer [Li2(thf)4Cl]{[tBuO3]Zr}2(micro-H)3} (8), in which demethylation of the dianionic [tBuO2O] ligand took place to give the trianionic [tBuO3] ligand. The X-ray crystal structures of 1b, 2a, 3a, 4, 6a, and 7 were reported.     

Access to new Janus head ligands: linking sulfur diimides and phosphanes for hemilabile tripodal scorpionates

Reactions of lithium dialkyl/phenyl phosphanylmethylides, RR'PCH(X)Li (R, R' = Me, Et, Ph and R = Me, R' = Ph; X = H or Me), with sulfur diimides S(NR')2 (R' = (t)Bu or SiMe3) in an equimolar ratio yielded Janus head complexes with the structural motif [Li{RR'PCH(X)S(NR')2}]2 (R' = (t)Bu, SiMe3). The basic core of these dimeric complexes is composed of a (LiN)(2) four-membered ring containing two four-coordinated lithium atoms. A lithium complex of the new Janus head ligand with another structural motif [TMEDA·Li{Ph(2)PCH(2)S(NSiMe3)2}] (6) could be isolated from the reaction of [Ph2PCH2Li·TMEDA] with S(NSiMe3)2. Two monomeric complexes [Mg{Me2PCH2S(NR')2}2] (7, 8) were synthesised by a straightforward reaction of [Li{Me2PCH2S(NR')2}2] with MgCl2 in pentane. The magnesium atom is chelated by one phosphorus atom and two nitrogen atoms of each unit of the hemilabile ligand in a tripodal manner, leading to octahedral geometry around the magnesium cation. A complete analysis of [Ph2PCH2(SNSiMe3)(HNSiMe3)] (9) is also described in which one nitrogen atom of the imido moiety is protonated.     

Synthesis, structure, and reactivity of 13-vertex carboranes and 14-vertex metallacarboranes

Syntheses, properties, and synthetic applications of 13-vertex closo- and nido-carboranes are reported. Reactions of the nido-carborane salt [(CH2)3C2B10H10]Na2 with dihaloborane reagents afforded 13-vertex closo-carboranes 1,2-(CH2)3-3-R-1,2-C2B11H10 (R = H (2), Ph (3), Z-EtCH=C(Et) (4), E-(t)BuCH=CH (5)). Treatment of the arachno-carborane salt [(CH2)3C2B10H10]Li4 with HBBr2.SMe2 gave both the 13-vertex carborane 2 and a 14-vertex closo-carborane (CH2)3C2B12H12 (8). On the other hand, the reaction of [C6H4(CH2)2C2B10H10]Li4 with HBBr2.SMe2 generated only a 13-vertex closo-carborane 1,2-C6H4(CH2)2-1,2-C2B11H11 (9). Electrophilic substitution reactions of 2 with excess MeI, Br2, or I2 in the presence of a catalytic amount of AlCl3 produced the hexa-substituted 13-vertex carboranes 8,9,10,11,12,13-X6-1,2-(CH2)3-1,2-C2B11H5 (X = Me (10), Br (11), I (12)). The halogenated products 11 and 12 displayed unexpected instability toward moisture. The 13-vertex closo-carboranes were readily reduced by groups 1 and 2 metals. Accordingly, several 13-vertex nido-carborane dianionic salts [nido-1,2-(CH2)3-1,2-C2B11H11][Li2(DME)2(THF)2] (13), [[nido-1,2-(CH2)3-1,2-C2B11H11][Na2(THF)4]]n (13a), [[nido-1,2-(CH2)3-3-Ph-1,2-C2B11H10][Na2(THF)4]]n (14), [[nido-1,2-C6H4(CH2)2-1,2-C2B11H11][Na2(THF)4]]n (15), and [nido-1,2-(CH2)3-1,2-C2B11H11][M(THF)5] (M = Mg (16), Ca (17)) were prepared in good yields. These carbon-atom-adjacent nido-carboranes were not further reduced to the corresponding arachno species by lithium metal. On the other hand, like other nido-carborane dianions, they were useful synthons for the production of super-carboranes and supra-icosahedral metallacarboranes. Interactions of 13a with HBBr2.SMe2, (dppe)NiCl2, and (dppen)NiCl2 gave the 14-vertex carborane 8 and nickelacarboranes [eta5-(CH2)3C2B11H11]Ni(dppe) (18) and [eta5-(CH2)3C2B11H11]Ni(dppen) (19), respectively. All complexes were fully characterized by various spectroscopic techniques and elemental analyses. Some were further confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies.     

Synthesis, structures and reactions of lithium complexes of [(o-RCHC6H4)PPh2=NSiMe3]-(R = H, SiMe3) ligands

N-Trimethylsilyl o-methylphenyldiphenylphosphinimine, (o-MeC6H4)PPh2=NSiMe3 (1), was prepared by reaction of Ph2P(Br)=NSiMe3 with o-methylphenyllithium. Treatment of 1 with LiBun and then Me3SiCl afforded (o-Me3SiCH2C6H4)PPh2=NSiMe3 (2). Lithiations of both 1 and 2 with LiBu(n) in the presence of tmen gave crystalline lithium complexes [Li{CH(R)C6H4(PPh(2=NSiMe3)-.tmen](3, R = H; 4, R = SiMe3). From the mother liquor of 4, traces of the tmen-bridged complex [Li{CH(SiMe3)C6H4(PPh2=NSiMe3)-2}]2(mu-tmen) (5) were obtained. Reaction of 2 with LiBun in Et2O yielded complex [Li{CH(SiMe3)C6H4(PPh2=NSiMe3)-2}.OEt2] (6). Reaction of lithiated with Me2SiCl2 in a 2:1 molar ratio afforded dimethylsilyl-bridged compound Me2Si[CH2C6H4(PPh2=NSiMe3)-2]2 (7). Lithiation of 7 with two equivalents of LiBun in Et2O yielded [Li2{(CHC6H4(PPh2=NSiMe3)-2)2SiMe2}.0.5OEt2](8.0.5OEt2). Treatment of 4 with PhCN formed a lithium enamide complex [Li{N(SiMe3)C(Ph)CHC6H4(PPh2=NSiMe3)-2}.tmen] (9). Reaction of two equivalents of 5 with 1,4-dicyanobenzene gave a dilithium complex [{Li(OEt2)2}2(1,4-{C(N(SiMe3)CHC6H4(PPh2=NSiMe3)-2}2C6H4)] (10). All compounds were characterised by NMR spectroscopy and elemental analyses. The structures of compounds 2, 3, 5, 6 and 9 have been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction techniques.     

Carba-closo-dodecaborates with one or two alkynyl substituents bonded to boron

Salts of the carba-closo-dodecaborate anion with one or two phenyl- or trimethylsilylalkynyl substituents were synthesized by Pd-catalyzed Kumada-type cross-coupling reactions of the corresponding iodinated clusters with alkynyl Grignard reagents. Selective monofunctionalization in the 7- and 12-position of the {closo-CB(11)} cluster was achieved, resulting in salts of the anions: [1-R-12-R'C[triple bond]C-closo-CB(11)H(10)](-) (R = H, Ph; R' = Ph, Me(3)Si (1-4)), [12-Hal-7-PhC[triple bond]C-closo-CB(11)H(10)](-) (Hal = F (5), Cl (6), Br (7)), and [12-F-7-Me(3)SiC[triple bond]C-closo-CB(11)H(10)](-) (8). Furthermore, the disubstituted derivatives [7,12-(RC[triple bond]C)(2)-closo-CB(11)H(10)](-) (R = Ph (9), Me(3)Si (10)) are described. All salts were characterized by multi-NMR, IR, and Raman spectroscopy as well as by mass spectrometry (MALDI). The crystal structures of Cs(+)1 and [Et(4)N](+)6 were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The spectroscopic and structural properties are compared to values derived from DFT calculations and to data of related boron species with alkynyl groups.     

Fluorinated diarylamido complexes of lithium, zirconium, and hafnium

Deprotonation of N-(2-fluorophenyl)-2,6-diisopropylaniline (H[ (i) PrAr-NF]) with 1 equiv of n-BuLi in toluene at -35 degrees C produced cleanly [ (i) PrAr-NF]Li. Subsequent recrystallization of [ (i) PrAr-NF]Li in diethyl ether generated the bis(ether) adduct [ (i) PrAr-NF]Li(OEt 2) 2. An X-ray study of [ (i) PrAr-NF]Li(OEt 2) 2 showed it to be a four-coordinate species with the coordination of the fluorine atom to the lithium center. The reactions of [ (i) PrAr-NF]Li with MCl 4(THF) 2 (M = Zr, Hf), regardless of the stoichiometry employed, afforded the corresponding dichloride complexes [ (i) PrAr-NF] 2MCl 2 (M = Zr, Hf). Alkylation of [ (i) PrAr-NF] 2MCl 2 with a variety of Grignard reagents generated [ (i) PrAr-NF] 2MR 2 (M = Zr, Hf; R = Me, i-Bu, CH 2Ph). The X-ray structures of [ (i) PrAr-NF] 2ZrCl 2, [ (i) PrAr-NF] 2HfCl 2, [ (i) PrAr-NF] 2ZrMe 2, [ (i) PrAr-NF] 2Zr( i-Bu) 2, and [ (i) PrAr-NF] 2Hf(CH 2Ph) 2 are all indicative of the coordination of the fluorine atoms to these group 4 metals, leading to a C 2-symmetric, distorted octahedral geometry for these molecules.     

Lanthanide and uranium complexes with an SPS-based pincer ligand

Reactions of Ln(BH4)3(THF)n and [Li(Et2O)]SPS(Me)], the lithium salt of an anionic SPS pincer ligand composed of a central hypervalent lambda4-phosphinine ring bearing two ortho-positioned diphenylphosphine sulfide sidearms, led to the monosubstituted compounds [Ln(BH4)2(SPS(Me))(THF)2] [Ln = Ce (1), Nd (2)], while the homoleptic complexes [Ln(SPS(Me))3] [Ln = Ce (3), Nd (4)] were obtained by treatment of LnX3 (X = I, BH4) with [K(Et2O)][SPS(Me)]. The [UX2(SPS(Me))2] complexes [X = Cl (5), BH4 (6)] were isolated from reactions of UX4 and the lithium or potassium salt of the [SPS(Me)]- anion. The X-ray crystal structures of 1.1.5THF, 2.1.5THF, 3.2THF.2Et2O, and 5.4py reveal that the flexible tridentate [SPS(Me)]- anion is bound to the metal as a tertiary phosphine with electronic delocalization within the unsaturated parts of the ligand.     

Ditopic hydridoborates and hydridoboranes: bridging ligands in coordination polymers and versatile hydroboration reagents

Single crystals of the meta- and para-phenylene-bridged ditopic trihydridoborates (Li(THF)(2))(2)[m-C(6)H(4)(BH(3))(2)] and (Li(THF)(2))(2)[p-C(6)H(4)(BH(3))(2)] have been prepared and investigated by X-ray crystallography. The compounds turned out to be coordination polymers in which each trihydridoborate substituent is connected with one trihydridoborate substituent of a neighbouring monomer via two bridging Li(THF)(2)(+) ions. (Li(THF)(2))(2)[m-C(6)H(4)(BH(3))(2)] and (Li(THF)(2))(2)[p-C(6)H(4)(BH(3))(2)] suffer from poor solubility in all common non-protic solvents. Thus, a more soluble derivative of (Li(THF)(2))(2)[p-C(6)H(4)(BH(3))(2)], equipped with n-hexyl groups at the positions 2 and 5 of the phenylene ring, has been used for all further investigations (i.e., compound Li(2)[6]). Treatment of Li(2)[6] with Me(3)SiCl in the presence of excess N(Me)(2)Et leads to the abstraction of one hydride ion per boron atom under formation of the ditopic amine-borane adduct p-C(6)H(2)(n-hexyl)(2)(BH(2)-N(Me)(2)Et)(2) (7). The compound turned out to be an efficient hydroboration reagent both for internal olefins (i.e., 1,5-cyclooctadiene) and terminal alkynes (i.e., tert-butyl acetylene) to give p-C(6)H(2)(n-hexyl)(2)(9-BBN)(2) (8; 9-BBN = 9-borabicyclo[3.3.1]nonyl) and p-C(6)H(2)(n-hexyl)(2)(B(C(H)=C(H)tBu)(2))(2) (9), respectively.     

Synthesis and characterisation of mixed ligand Pt(II) and Pt(IV) oxadiazoline complexes

The nitrile ligands in trans-[PtX2(PhCN)2] (X = Cl, Br, I) undergo sequential 1,3 dipolar cycloadditions with nitrones R1R2C=N+(Me)-O(-) (R1 = H, R2 = Ph; R1 = CO2Et, R2 = CH2CO2Et) to selectively form the Delta4-1,2,4-oxadiazoline complexes trans-[PtX2(PhCN) (N=C(Ph)-O-N(Me)-CR1R2)] or trans-[PtX2(N=C(Ph)-O-N(Me)-CR1R2)2] in high yields. The reactivity of the mixed ligand complexes trans-[PtX2(PhCN)(N=C(Ph)-O-N(Me)-CR1R2)] towards oxidation and ligand substitution was studied in more detail. Oxidation with Cl2 or Br2 provides the Pt(IV) species trans-[PtX2Y2(PhCN)(N=C(Ph)-O-N(Me)-CH(Ph))] (X, Y = Cl, Br). The mixed halide complex (X = Cl, Y = Br) undergoes halide scrambling in solution to form trans-[PtX(4-n)Yn(PhCN)(N=C(Ph)-O-N(Me)-CH(Ph))] as a statistical mixture. Ligand substitution in trans-[PtCl2(PhCN)(N=C(Ph)-O-N(Me)-CR1R2)] allows for selective replacement of the coordinated nitrile by nitrogen heterocycles such as pyridine, DMAP or 1-benzyl-2-methylimidazole to produce mixed ligand Pt(II) complexes of the type trans- [PtX2(heterocycle)(N=C(Ph)-O-N(Me)-CR1R2)]. All compounds were characterised by elemental analysis, mass spectrometry, IR and 1H, 13C and 195Pt NMR spectroscopy. Single-crystal X-ray structural analysis of (R,S)-trans-[PtBr2(N=C(Ph)-O-N(Me)-CH(Ph))2] and trans-[PtCl2(C5H5N)(N=C(Ph)-O-N(Me)-CH(Ph))] confirms the molecular structure and the trans configuration of the heterocycles relative to each other.     

A terminal nickel(II) anilide complex featuring an unsymmetrically substituted amido pincer ligand: synthesis and reactivity

This work describes preparation and reaction chemistry of a terminal nickel(II) anilide complex supported by an unsymmetrically substituted diarylamido diphosphine ligand, [N(o-C(6)H(4)PPh(2))(o-C(6)H(4)P(i)Pr(2))](-) ([Ph-PNP-(i)Pr](-)). Treatment of NiCl(2)(DME) with H[Ph-PNP-(i)Pr] in THF at room temperature produced [Ph-PNP-(i)Pr]NiCl as green crystals in 82% yield. Salt metathesis of [Ph-PNP-(i)Pr]NiCl with LiNHPh(THF) in THF at -35 °C generated cleanly [Ph-PNP-(i)Pr]NiNHPh as a greenish blue solid. The anilide complex deprotonates protic (e.g., PhOH and PhSH) and aprotic (e.g., trimethylsilylacetylene, phenylacetylene, and acetonitrile) acids in benzene at room temperature to give quantitatively [Ph-PNP-(i)Pr]NiX (X = OPh, SPh, C≡CSiMe(3), C≡CPh, CH(2)CN). In addition, [Ph-PNP-(i)Pr]NiNHPh also behaves as a nucleophile to react with acetyl chloride to yield [Ph-PNP-(i)Pr]NiCl and N-phenylacetamide quantitatively. Carbonylation of [Ph-PNP-(i)Pr]NiNHPh with carbon monoxide affords cleanly the carbamoyl derivative [Ph-PNP-(i)Pr]Ni[C(O)NHPh]. The relative bond strengths of Ni-E in [Ph-PNP-(i)Pr]NiEPh (E = NH, O, S, C≡C) are assessed and discussed.     

Syntheses and structures of magnesium and zinc boraamidinates: EPR and DFT investigations of Li, Mg, Zn, B, and In complexes of the [PhB(NtBu)2].- anion radical

The first magnesium and zinc boraamidinate (bam) complexes have been synthesized via metathetical reactions between dilithio bams and Grignard reagents or MCl2 (M = Mg, Zn). The following new classes of bam complexes have been structurally characterized: heterobimetallic spirocycles {(L)mu-Li[PhB(mu-NtBu)2]}2M (6a,b, M = Mg, L = Et2O, THF; 6c, M = Zn, L = Et(2)O); bis(organomagnesium) complexes {[PhB(mu3-NtBu)2](MgtBu)2(mu3-Cl)Li(OEt2)3} (8) and {[PhB(mu3-NtBu)2](MgR)2(THF)2} (9a, R = iPr; 9b, R = Ph); mononuclear complex {[PhB(mu-NDipp)2]Mg(OEt2)2} (10). Oxidation of 6a or 6c with iodine produces persistent pink (16a, M = Mg) or purple (16b, M = Zn) neutral radicals {Lx-mu-Li[PhB(mu-NtBu)2]2M}. (L = solvent molecule), which are shown by EPR spectra supported by DFT calculations to be Cs-symmetric species with spin density localized on one of the bam ligands. In contrast, characterization of the intensely colored neutral radicals {[PhB(mu-NtBu)2]2M}. (5c, M = In, dark green; 5d, M = B, dark purple) reveals that the spin density is equally delocalized over all four nitrogen atoms in these D2d-symmetric spirocyclic systems. Oxidation of the dimeric dilithio complex {Li2[PhB(mu4-NtBu)2]}2 with iodine produces the monomeric neutral radical {[PhB(mu-NtBu)2]Li(OEt2)x}. (17), characterized by EPR spectra and DFT calculations. These findings establish that the bam anionic radical [PhB(NtBu)2].- can be stabilized by coordination to a variety of early main-group metal centers to give neutral radicals whose relative stabilities are compared and discussed.     

Site selectivity and reversibility in the reactions of titanium hydrazides with Si-H, Si-X, C-X and H+ reagents: Ti=N(α) 1,2-silane addition, Nβ alkylation, Nα protonation and σ-bond metathesis

We report a combined experimental and computational comparative study of the reactions of the homologous titanium dialkyl- and diphenylhydrazido and imido compounds Cp*Ti{MeC(N(i)Pr)(2)}(NNR(2)) (R = Me (1) or Ph (2)) and Cp*Ti{MeC(N(i)Pr)(2)}(NTol) (3) with silanes, halosilanes, alkyl halides and [Et(3)NH][BPh(4)]. Compound 1 underwent reversible Si-H 1,2-addition to Ti=N(α) with RSiH(3) (experimental ΔH ca. -17 kcal mol(-1)), and irreversible addition with PhSiH(2)X (X = Cl, Br). DFT found that the reaction products and certain intermediates were stabilised by β-NMe(2) coordination to titanium. The Ti-D bond in Cp*Ti{MeC(N(i)Pr)(2)}(D){N(NMe(2))SiD(2)Ph} underwent σ-bond metathesis with BuSiH(3) and H(2). Compound 1 reacted with RR'SiCl(2) at N(α) to transfer both Cl atoms to Ti; 2 underwent a similar reaction. Compound 3 did not react with RSiH(3) or alkyl halides but formed unstable Ti=N(α) 1,2-addition or N(α) protonation products with PhSiH(2)X or [Et(3)NH][BPh(4)]. Compound 1 underwent exclusive alkylation at N(β) with RCH(2)X (R = H, Me or Ph; X = Br or I) whereas protonation using [Et(3)NH][BPh(4)] occurred at N(α). DFT studies found that in all cases electrophile addition to N(α) (with or without NMe(2) chelation) was thermodynamically favoured compared to addition to N(β).     

New and versatile routes to zirconium imido dichloride compounds

Reactions of zirconium dialkyl- or bis(amido)-dichloride complexes "[Zr(CH2SiMe3)2Cl2(Et2O)2]" or [Zr(NMe2)2Cl2(THF)2] with primary alkyl and aryl amines are described. Reaction of "[Zr(CH2SiMe3)2Cl2(Et2O)2]" with RNH2 in THF afforded dimeric [Zr2(mu-NR)2Cl4(THF)4](R=2,6-C6H3iPr2 (1), 2,6-C6H3Me2 (2) or Ph (3)), [Zr2(mu-NR)2Cl4(THF)3](R=tBu (5), iPr (6), CH2Ph (7)), or the "ate" complex [Zr2(mu-NC6F5)2Cl6(THF)2{Li(THF)3}2](4, the LiCl coming from the in situ prepared "[Zr(CH2SiMe3)2Cl2(Et2O)2]"). With [Zr(NMe2)2Cl2(THF)2] the compounds [Zr2(mu-NR)2Cl4(L)x(L')y](R=2,6-C6H3iPr2 (8), 2,6-C6H3Me2 (9), Ph (10) or C6F5 (11); (L)x(L')y=(NHMe2)3(THF), (NHMe2)2(THF)2 or undefined), [Zr2(mu-NtBu)2Cl4(NHMe2)3] (12) and insoluble [Zr(NR)Cl2(NHMe2)]x(R=iPr (13) or CH2Ph (14)) were obtained. Attempts to form monomeric terminal imido compounds by reaction of or with an excess of pyridine led, respectively, to the corresponding dimeric adducts [Zr2(mu-2,6-C6H3Me2)2Cl4(py)4] (15) and [Zr2(mu-NtBu)2Cl4(py)3] (16). The X-ray structures of 1, 2, 4, 8, 12 and 15 have been determined.     

Syntheses, reactivity and DFT studies of group 2 and group 12 metal complexes of tris(pyrazolyl)methanides featuring "free" pyramidal carbanions

Reactions of HC(Me2pz)3 with Grignard reagents, dialkyl magnesium compounds and dimethylzinc are reported, together with a DFT study on some of the aspects of this chemistry. Reactions of HC(Me2pz)3 with MeMgX (X=Cl or Br) gave the half-sandwich zwitterionic compounds [Mg((Me)Tpmd)X] (X=Cl (2) or Br (3); (Me)Tpmd(-)=[C(Me2pz)3](-)). Addition of HCl to 2 gave the structurally characterised half-sandwich compound [Mg{HC(Me2pz)3}Cl2(thf)] (4). The zwitterionic sandwich compound [Mg(MeTpmd)2] (5) formed in low yields in the reaction of MeMgX with HC(Me2pz)3 but was readily prepared from HC(Me2pz)3 and either MgnBu2 or MgPh2. The structurally characterised compound 5 contains two "naked" sp3-hybridised carbanions fully separated from the dicationic metal centre. Only by using MgPh2 as starting material could the half-sandwich compound [Mg(MeTpmd)Ph(thf)] (6) be isolated. The zwitterionic sandwich compound 5 reacted with HOTf (OTf(-)=[O3SCF3](-)) to form the dication [Mg{HC(Me2pz)3}2]2+ (7(2+)), which was structurally characterised. Pulsed field gradient spin-echo (PGSE) diffusion NMR spectroscopy revealed both compounds to be intact in solution. In contrast to the magnesium counterparts, HC(Me2pz)3 reacted only slowly with ZnMe2 (and not at all with ZnPh2) to form the half-sandwich zwitterion [Zn(MeTpmd)Me] (8), which contains a cationic methylzinc moiety separated from a single sp3-hybridised carbanion. Density functional calculations on the zwitterions [M(MeTpmd)Me] and [M(MeTpmd)2] (M=Mg, Zn) revealed that the HOMO in each case is a (Me)Tpmd-based carbanion lone pair. The kappa 1C isomers of [M(MeTpmd)Me] were calculated to be considerably less stable than their kappa 3N-bound counterparts, with the largest gain in energy for Mg due to the greater ease of electron transfer from metal to the (Me)Tpmd apical carbon atom on formation of the zwitterion. Moreover, the computed M-C bond dissociation enthalpies of the kappa 1C isomers of [M(MeTpmd)Me] are considerably higher than expected by simple extrapolation from the corresponding computed H-C bond dissociation enthalpy.     

Dichloro and alkylchloro gallium derivatives of dichalcogenoimidodiphosphinate ligands: isolation of a spirogallium cation

Dichloro and chloromethyl Ga(III) complexes of general formulae [XClGa-eta2-{R2P(E)NP(E'R'2-E,E'}](X = Cl, R, R'= Ph, E, E'= O (1), S (2), Se (3); R = Ph, R'= OEt, E = O, E'= S (4); R = Me, R'= Ph, E, E'= S (5) and X = Me, E, E'= O (6), S (7), Se (8)) were synthesised by either metathesis reactions between GaCl3 and the potassium salt of the ligand (X = Cl) or by methane eliminations from in situ prepared GaMe2Cl and the protonated ligands LH (X = Me). Redistribution reaction of (3) in either CDCl3 or THF afforded the solvent-free tetracoordinate gallium spirocycle cation [Ga-{eta2-{Ph2P(Se)NP(Se)Ph2-Se,Se'})2]+ (9+). The molecular structures of complexes 2, 4, 5, 7 and 9(+) show non-planar gallacycle rings.     

Synthesis and reactivity of Ir(I) and Ir(III) complexes with MeNH2, Me2C=NR (R = H, Me), C,N-C6H4{C(Me)=N(Me)}-2, and N,N'-RN=C(Me)CH2C(Me2)NHR (R = H, Me) ligands

Complexes [Ir(Cp*)Cl(n)(NH2Me)(3-n)]X(m) (n = 2, m = 0 (1), n = 1, m = 1, X = Cl (2a), n = 0, m = 2, X = OTf (3)) are obtained by reacting [Ir(Cp*)Cl(mu-Cl)]2 with MeNH2 (1:2 or 1:8) or with [Ag(NH2Me)2]OTf (1:4), respectively. Complex 2b (n = 1, m = 1, X = ClO 4) is obtained from 2a and NaClO4 x H2O. The reaction of 3 with MeC(O)Ph at 80 degrees C gives [Ir(Cp*){C,N-C6H4{C(Me)=N(Me)}-2}(NH2Me)]OTf (4), which in turn reacts with RNC to give [Ir(Cp*){C,N-C6H4{C(Me)=N(Me)}-2}(CNR)]OTf (R = (t)Bu (5), Xy (6)). [Ir(mu-Cl)(COD)]2 reacts with [Ag{N(R)=CMe2}2]X (1:2) to give [Ir{N(R)=CMe2}2(COD)]X (R = H, X = ClO4 (7); R = Me, X = OTf (8)). Complexes [Ir(CO)2(NH=CMe2)2]ClO4 (9) and [IrCl{N(R)=CMe2}(COD)] (R = H (10), Me (11)) are obtained from the appropriate [Ir{N(R)=CMe2}2(COD)]X and CO or Me4NCl, respectively. [Ir(Cp*)Cl(mu-Cl)]2 reacts with [Au(NH=CMe2)(PPh3)]ClO4 (1:2) to give [Ir(Cp*)(mu-Cl)(NH=CMe2)]2(ClO4)2 (12) which in turn reacts with PPh 3 or Me4NCl (1:2) to give [Ir(Cp*)Cl(NH=CMe2)(PPh3)]ClO4 (13) or [Ir(Cp*)Cl2(NH=CMe2)] (14), respectively. Complex 14 hydrolyzes in a CH2Cl2/Et2O solution to give [Ir(Cp*)Cl2(NH3)] (15). The reaction of [Ir(Cp*)Cl(mu-Cl)]2 with [Ag(NH=CMe2)2]ClO4 (1:4) gives [Ir(Cp*)(NH=CMe2)3](ClO4)2 (16a), which reacts with PPNCl (PPN = Ph3=P=N=PPh3) under different reaction conditions to give [Ir(Cp*)(NH=CMe2)3]XY (X = Cl, Y = ClO4 (16b); X = Y = Cl (16c)). Equimolar amounts of 14 and 16a react to give [Ir(Cp*)Cl(NH=CMe2)2]ClO4 (17), which in turn reacts with PPNCl to give [Ir(Cp*)Cl(H-imam)]Cl (R-imam = N,N'-N(R)=C(Me)CH2C(Me)2NHR (18a)]. Complexes [Ir(Cp*)Cl(R-imam)]ClO4 (R = H (18b), Me (19)) are obtained from 18a and AgClO4 or by refluxing 2b in acetone for 7 h, respectively. They react with AgClO4 and the appropriate neutral ligand or with [Ag(NH=CMe2)2]ClO4 to give [Ir(Cp*)(R-imam)L](ClO4)2 (R = H, L = (t)BuNC (20), XyNC (21); R = Me, L = MeCN (22)) or [Ir(Cp*)(H-imam)(NH=CMe2)](ClO4)2 (23a), respectively. The later reacts with PPNCl to give [Ir(Cp*)(H-imam)(NH=CMe2)]Cl(ClO4) (23b). The reaction of 22 with XyNC gives [Ir(Cp*)(Me-imam)(CNXy)](ClO4)2 (24). The structures of complexes 15, 16c and 18b have been solved by X-ray diffraction methods.     

Structural varieties in heterobimetallic lanthanide disiloxanediolates: "inorganic metallocenes" versus in-plane metallacrowns

The previously proposed concept of "inorganic metallocenes" of group 3 and rare-earth elements has been tested by preparing a series of novel disiloxanediolates with metals displaying different ionic radii. For the smaller scandium and yttrium, approximately planar arrangements of the disiloxanediolate frameworks with solvent and chloride ligands in trans positions were found. Thus, the compounds [{(Ph2SiO)2O}2{Li(DME)}2]ScCl(THF/DME) (2; DME=1,2-dimethoxyethane and THF=tetrahydrofuran) and [{(Ph2SiO)2O}2{Li(THF)2}2]YCl(THF) (3) can be described as heterobimetallic inorganic ring systems or metallacrown complexes with "in-plane" coordination of the metal. In contrast, "out-of-plane" geometries with cis coordination of additional ligands were identified in the praseodymium derivatives [{(Ph2SiO)2O}2{Li(THF)2}{Li(THF)}]Pr(micro-Cl)2Li(THF)2 (4) and [{(Ph2SiO)2O}2{Li(DME)}2]PrCl(DME) (5). These compounds can be viewed as analogues of the known metallocene derivatives (C5Me5)2Pr(micro-Cl)2Li(THF)2 and (C5Me5)2PrCl(THF). The molecular structures of 2-5 have been determined by X-ray diffraction.     

PtII-mediated 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of oxazoline N-oxides to nitriles as a key step to dihydrooxazolo-1,2,4-oxadiazoles

A novel type of heterocycle, viz., 2,3a-disubstituted 5,6-dihydro-3aH-[1,3]oxazolo[3,2-b][1,2,4]oxadiazoles, was generated by an intermolecular PtII-mediated 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition (1,3-DCA) between the oxazoline N-oxide C(Me)2CH2OC(R)=N+(O-) (R = Me, Et) and coordinated nitriles in the complexes trans/cis-[PtCl2(R'CN)2] [R' = Me, Et, CH2Ph, Ph, N(C5H10)]. The reaction is unknown for free RCN and oxazoline N-oxides, but under PtII-mediated conditions, it proceeds smoothly (CH2Cl2, 20-25 degrees C, 18-20 h) and gives pure complexes [PtCl2{N=C(R')ONC(R)OCH2CMe2}2] [R/R' = Me/Me, 1; Me/Et, 2; Me/CH2Ph, 3; Me/Ph, 4; Me/N(C5H10), 5; Et/Me, 6; Et/Et, 7; Et/CH2Ph, 8; Et/Ph, 9; Et/N(C5H10), 10] in 42-84% yields after column chromatography. Compounds 1-10 were characterized by elemental analyses (C, H, N), FAB+-MS, IR, and 1H and 13C{1H} NMR spectroscopies, and X-ray diffraction (for 1, 2, 5, and 9). With the exception of benzonitrile complexes, 1,3-DCA of oxazoline N-oxides to the PtII-ligated nitriles occurred diastereoselectively and afforded mixtures of enantiomers. Depending on the substituents on nitriles, asymmetric atoms in both of the formed heterocyclic ligands have the same (SS/RR) or different (SR/RS) configurations. The heterocyclic ligands were liberated from 1-4 and 6-9 by treatment with excess ethane-1,2-diamine (en) in CH2Cl2 for 1 day at 20-25 degrees C (for R' = Me, Et, CH2Ph) and at 50 degrees C (for R' = Ph) to achieve the free organic species and the well-known [Pt(en)2](Cl)2; the products were separated, and 2,3a-disubstituted 5,6-dihydro-3aH-[1,3]oxazolo[3,2-b][1,2,4]oxadiazoles (11-18) were characterized by ESI+-MS and 1H and 13C{1H} NMR spectroscopies.